Pastor: Thanksgiving transcends any religion and is appropriate everywhere

Answer: Christianity is actually a Judeo-Christian faith, rooted in the Old Testament and expanded in the New Testament. Any old covenant precedent that

Question: Is Thanksgiving a Christian holiday and, if so, why?

- Dr. Don Crain, Mechanicsville, Va.

Answer: Christianity is actually a Judeo-Christian faith, rooted in the Old Testament and expanded in the New Testament. Any old covenant precedent that isn't set aside in our new covenant is available for Christian use. So, we ask, "Is Thanksgiving biblical?"

Although not a holiday, the first mention of thanksgiving in the Bible is found in Leviticus, chapter 7, where Moses gave instructions for an offering to restore peace with God. There, Israel was told they might include an offering of thanksgiving with their peace offering. This was optional, because in chapter 22, God said sacrifices of thanksgiving were to be self-initiated and of free will.

In Psalm 35 David said he would offer thanks before the congregation in public worship. In fact, the giving of thanks is the theme of many Psalms, such as 30:4; 50:14; 69:30; 95:2; 100:4; and the many other times they enjoin us to "Give thanks unto the Lord for he is good, for his mercy endures forever." This was also Daniel's habit to offer thanks 3 times every day. But, is it continued in the New Testament?

Yes; eight times in the gospels Jesus, himself, gave thanks before eating or feeding others. In Matthew 11:25 and Luke 10:21 Jesus said thanks in his public prayers, and in John 11 he offered thanks before raising Lazarus. In Luke 17 Jesus commended the one leper out of ten who returned to give him thanks for being healed. Paul admonished the Ephesians in 5:20 to give thanks in the name of Jesus for all things. Even the angels who live daily in God's presence will offer thanks in Revelation 7:12. In Revelation 11:17 they'll be joined by all the saints in Heaven thanking God for his awesome power.

I believe Thanksgiving transcends any religion and is appropriate everywhere because it springs from the heart's desire to show gratitude. We're fortunate that our forefathers and leaders today in America have set aside a season to encourage national Thanksgiving to God.

- Tom Lovorn is pastor of God's Storehouse Baptist Church in Richmond and writes a weekly question and answer column on religion for The Progress-Index.

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